Domestic appliance



March 23, 1943. F, H McCQRMlCK 314,592

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE i Filed Oct. 18, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet l a 64 es @a ill n @D A HMM l n E Q2/EMDR.

m @E E A, TTGRNEYS March 23, 1943. F, HQMCRWCK 2,314,592

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed ont. 18, 1959 6 sheets-sheet 2 :DEN E March 23, 1943. F. H. MccoRMlcK noMEsTIc APPMANCE Filed oct. 18, 1959 e sheets-sheep z E E A A TTORNEYS March 23, 1943.

F. H. MOCORMICK DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed Oct. 18, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 BAKE PREHIAT las I TTOINEYS March 23, 1943. F. H. MCCORMICK 2,314,592

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed Oct. 18, 1939 6 Shee'hs-Sheet 5 50 aga S34/ingu 2) 83.0 252 ATTORNEYS Mud; 23, 1943. I F. H. wcm-Mick 2,314,592

DOMESTIC APPLIANGE Filed Oct., 18, y19259 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTORNEYS INV NTOR., 2%. mwa/Q Patented Mar. 23, 1943 DOMESTIC ArrLrANcr.y

Francis H. McCormick, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application October 18, 1939, Serial No. 300,032

7 Claims. (Cl. 219-35) 'I'his invention relates to a domestic appliance and more particularly to heating arrangements in electric stoves.

It has been found that a more uniform temperature will be attained in an oven by supplya greater density of Wattage per square inch than the inner ring.

The problem of providingv uniform heat distrbution for a wide variety of food loads in an oven is perpetual and continuing. Apparently ing the major portion of the heat at the botthere is no perfect solution to the problem; but tom and a small amount of evenly distributed improvements are always possible and desirable. heat at the top of the oven. The space within It is Customary to place the main heating unit the oven is made more usable by providing the in the bOttOIn 0f the 0Ven- This, hOWeveI, has broiling heater at the top of the oven. If sepa- 10 a tendency t0 make the Portion 0f the o elta rate heaters are provided in the top of the immediately ebOve lShe heating unit 1200 Oli. oven for broiling and for baking the heaters Various forms of baiiies or heat shields over the will interfere to prevent either heater from prolower heating unit have been ried but I nd viding the desired uniform distribution, these forms are rather ineffective and tend to It is an object of my invention to provide an trap the heal? in the bottom 0f the Oven. arrangement for a heater in the upper portion of It iS an Object 0f my inventn t0 Provide a the oven which will cause the heater to supply heating arrangement for an electric oven which heat uniformly ai; a sumoienr, rate for broiiing will provide a. more even distribution of heat when desired or at a much lesser rate when it is end Particularly Will pfevent the burning 0f the desired to use the ove-o for baking, bottom food being baked on the lower shelf in I have found that the inner portion of the the Ovenelectric surface heaters tends to become much ,It is another object of my nVentlon to Pro' warmer than the outside portion of suon heaters, vide an improved bene arrangement for the even though it has been Customary to provide heater in the bottom of the oven which will the heat uniformly over trie surface of the shield the lowershelves from radiant heat and heaters, one reason for this is that the outer provide a gentle evenly distributed circulation portions of suchheaters are exposed to relative- 0f hot all' in the oven but Whieh Will avoid the ly cool air as Well as cooler portions of the range trapping of heal? beneath the bemea-djacent the heaters. Convection currents at Il? has been found that in order to obtain unf' the outer edges of the heaters carry away heat 3o form temperature distribution over an area ad' from the outer portions of the surface heaters jacent to a heating mit 0f radiant type it 1S with considerable rapidity, The inner portions desirable to reduce the heat intensity adjacent of the heaters are separated from the conveclthe center of the heating unit and' to increase tion currents of cool air as well as cooler porthe heat intensity of the edge Portions 0f the tions of the range adjacent the heaters by 'the 35 heating unit. This is true for baking andbroilouter portions of the heaters, and the hotair ing as Well as Surface heating unitsl rising from the outer portions of the heaters. 1li S theliefOre another object of my inven- This condition is frequently made worse by reanon te Provide en improved arrangement 0f the son of the. fact that cooking utensils often have heating means in the bottom and top of the concave bottoms and thus tend to make contact 40 oven to ncrease heat intensity at the edges of only on the outside of the heater and ordinarily the heatmg means and especially at' the from remain out of contact on the inside or center. and rear edge m. order to obtain more uniform This causes most of the heat to be conducted terpsralrle grlglgtf'ect of my invention to :terseessereestese: a mens an port for the insulators of the electric resistance forced to employ some less eflcient manner of means. l heat. Pransmission' Further objects and advantages of the pres- It 1s thereforean ooJect of my 'mvention to ent invention will be apparent from the folprovide an electric surface heater 1n .which the 5o iowing description' reference being had to the heating intensity increases from the inner poraccompanying drawings, wherein a preferred tions to the outer portions of the surface heater. form of the present invention 1s clearly shown.

It is another object of my invention to provide In the drawings :V an electric surface heater formed of a plurality Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electric stove of concentric rings in which the outer ring has embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear view of an elecy tric stove embodying my invention;

Fig. 3 is a complete wiring diagram for an electric stove shown'in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram of the oven heating system together with its control switch shown in off position;

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram of the oven heating system with the control system shown in low heat position;

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram of theV oven heating system with the control switch shown in baking position;

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram of an oven heating system with the control switch shown in broiling position;

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the oven, both heating elements and the baille;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the lower heating means shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view through one of the insulators taken along the lines llll 0 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of a portion of the heating means shown in Fig. 9 taken along the lines Il-ll of Fig. 9; w

Fig. 12 is a plan view of one of the heating units for the oven., the upper and lower heating units of which may be made identical; and

Fig. 13 is a modified form of the heating means shown in Fig. 12, made so as to provide a greater amount of heat at all of the edges.

Briefly, I have shown an improved electric stove or range which is simple and desirable in construction. It is provided With surface heaters having two concentric heater rings and the outer heating ring has a sufficiently greater heating capacity to provide a greater heating effect per square inch than the inner ring. Preferably the outer ring has at least twice the heating energy of the inner ring. For high heating both the vrings are energized to their full capacity, while for medium heat the inner ring only is energized at only onehalf voltage and provides a heating effect equal to about one-half of the full effect of the inner ring and aboutI one-fourth of the full heating effect of the outer ring. This heating arrangement provides a greater heating effect upon the outside ring where the cooking utensils normally Contact and it also provides a better selection of heating rates for normal cooking requirements. I have found that the heating capacity for medium heat should be considerably less than one-half the high heating rate and that the low heating rate should be about onehalf the medium heating rate.

I have provided two identical heating units in the top and bottom of the oven and I provide an evenizer baille over the top of the lower heating unit to make the heating of the oven much more uniform. The upper heater I use at maximum capacity for broiling, while for baking I use the lower heater at maximum capacity at the full voltage and upper heater I use at one-half voltage and, in addition, connect the upper heater in series with an external resistance which further I reduces the actual voltage upon the upper heater. By this arrangement I can use an evenly distributed heater in the upper portion for both broiling and baking in order to get uniform heat distribution for either broiling or baking. I also provide a preheating arrangement by which both upper and lower heaters are operated at full voltage and maximum capacity.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1 there is shown an electric range including a range shell 20, preferably coated with porcelain inside and out, which is provided with a cooking top 22 having an integral back panel 24, all of which is coated with porcelain on both sides. The top is provided with four surface heaters 26, each provided with an outer heating ring 28 and an inner heating ring 30. These heating rings form the surface heaters and are made of different sizes and different heating rings.

For example, the inner ring may have an outer` diameter of 41/2" and an inner diameter of 21/4" and an upper surface area of about l2 square inches. Preferably it has a rate of 400 watts at full voltage giving it a heating density of about 33 watts per square inch. The outer ring preferably has an outer diameter of about fil/2" and an inner diameter of about 41/2" providing an upper surface area of about 17 square inches. Preferably this outer ring has a heating ring of about 800 watts providing a heatv density of about 50 watts per square inch. This provides about 50% greater heating density in the outer ring than in the inner ring. This counteracts the tendency of surface heaters to get much hotter on the inner portions thanv the outer portions. I nd that cooking utensils often have concave bottoms causing them to contact upon the outside ring and .usually fail to make contact with the inside ring. Thus the heat will be removed from the outside ring much more easily than from the inside' ring and the greater heating density provided by the outside ring will therefore compensate for its greater rate of heat transfer to keep both rings at about the same temperature.

If desired, the surface heaters may have more than two concentric heating rings with the inner ring having the least heat intensity and the outer ring having the greatest heat intensity. In such a surface heater, the intermediate heating rings preferably have an intensity intermediate the heat intensity of the inner and outer rings. If there are more than one intermediate ring their heat intensity may be graduated so that the heat intensity of the heaters increases progressively from the inner ring to the outer ring. Other typesof surface heaters may also be made so as to provide greater heat intensity upon the outer edges thereof than upon the inner portions thereof. For example, surface heaters of the spiral coil type may have their coils widely spaced in their inner portion and closely spaced in their outer portions to provide greater heatdntensity ln the outer portions. The spacing of such coils preferably progressively decreases from the inner portions to the outer portion to provide a progressively increasing heat intensity.

The bottoms of the surface heaters 26 are separated from their switches by a switch shield 32 located beneath the top cover 22 and extending generally downwardly at an angle from its front edge. A U-shaped channel 34 is connected to the shield and conducts the necessary wiring from the surface heaters to the surface heater switches 84, 86, 36 and 88. These surface heater switches form a part of a switch channel assembly which includes the switch channel 38 which is fastened by screws at its opposite ends'to the front portions of the range shell 20. The switch channel hasthe surface heater switches 84, 86, 36 and 88 fastened to its rear face and the operating shafts of the switch extend forwardly through the switch channel so that they may be provided with switch handles after a switch panel is placed over the switch panel assembly. The switch channel assembly is also provided with a fuse and fuse receptacle member 40. The wiring from the switch channel assembly is Vgrouped together in sort o f a exible conduit 42 which extends rearwardly through a channel 44 located immediately beneath the cooking top 22 and extending from the front to theback of the range.

Directly beneath the surface heating units 26 is a large warming drawer 46 and beneath this large drawer 46 is an electric heater called a warming unit 48 by which the large drawer may be heated for keeping food which has already been prepared at a desirable temperature or it may be used to warm dishes prior to serving of a meal.

The walls of the oven proper are provided by an oven shell 50 which ts into the front of the range shell 20. The oven shell 50 is surrounded with insulation and through its rear wall extend the plug receptacles 52 and 54. The upper oven heating unit 56 plugs directly into the upper receptacle 52 while the lower oven heating unit 58 plugs into the lower receptacle 54. These upper and lower oven heating units are identical eX- cept for the fact that the lower heating unit is provided with an evenizer ballie 60 for the purpose of balancing the distribution of heat through the oven. Each of the oven heater units are of the open coil type and are designed to provide a uniform heat distribution over their entire area. They have a rating of 2000 watts at full voltage.

The oven heating units are controlled by an jacent the bottom of the range to which the supoven switch 62 having a knob located upon the front face of back panel 24 and the remainder of the mechanism located upon the rear of the back panel 24. As will be further explained in connection with Figs. 4 to 7 this Switch provides upper oven heat unit is operated alone for broiling purposes.

At one side of the oven switch 62 is the oven temperature control 64 which in reality is a thermostat which operates a set of switch contacts to control the supply of current to the oven heating units. ture control 64 there is provided a timer clock 66 which may be used to start and stop the energization of the oven heating 'units at any particular set time. At the side of the clock 66 is a time signal 68 which may be set to ring .a bell at any particular time desired.` v On the other side of the oven switch 62 is 'an oven vent 10 which permits air, odors and vapors to escape from the oven. 'At the side of this vent '|0is a warmer switch 12 beneath which is a signal light 14 which is lighted whenever the upper unit is in operation. Below the signal light 14 is an appliance receptacle 16 which may be used as an outlet for an electric teakettle or percolator or the like.

The external resistance 18 for use with the upper oven heating unit 56 during baking operations is located upon the back of the range and like the other electrical parts is connected to the line terminal block 80 which is located ad- At the side of the oven temperaply electric conductors are connected. Preferably the range operates upon a three-wire 115-120, 230-240 volt distribution system. The electrical connections shown in Fig. 2 at the rear of the range are concealed by the rear cover 82 of the range.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 3 which .shows the wiring system of the range, the line terminal block is shown connected to the surface heater switches 84, 86, 36 and 88. The connection between these switches and the line terminal block 80 is made by the conductors 42 which pass through the channel 44 provided for them. 'Ihe switch 84v is connected to the left front surface heater 26 which includes the outer ring-shaped heating member 28 and the inner ring-shaped vheating member 30. The switch 84 includes a knob 94 provided with a pointer 96. Four positions om high, medium and low are indicated upon the switch panel.

The knob 94 is connected to a shaft 98 provided with cams |02, |04 and |06. The cam |02 operates the contact v|08 which makes engagement with the stationary contact ||0 for supplying current to a connection which connects with one end of each of the heating members 28 and 30. The other end of the heating member 30 is connected to the stationary contact ||2 which is adapted to be contacted by the movable contact I4, which in turn is connected to the middle wire Aof the terminal block. The other end of the heater 28 is connected to a double stationary contact ||6 having a contact ||8 adapted to be engaged by the movable contact |20 which is connected to one of the outside conductors, while the second contact |22 is adapted to make contact with the movable contact ||4 connected to the middle wire.

The other switches are connected to the left rear, right rear, and right front surface units in the same manner as is the switch 84. However, Y

the switch 84 is shown in the 01T position, with the contact |08 away from the contact ||0, and the contact ||4 away from the contact ||2. In this position, since only one conductor is connected to the supply line, no current can flow through any of the heaters.

When the knob 94 of the switch 84 is turned to the high position, the cam |02 will be turned so that its point of contact with the contact |08 will be changed from its high portion to its low portion. This will permit contact |08 to make contact with the contact ||0. The cam |04 will also be rotated but the contact ||4 will remain upon the high portion of the cam. rThe-cam. |06 will also move one-fourth turn in a clockwise direction so that the contact of the cam with the Contact |20 will lbe changed from the high portion of the cam to the low portion of the cam. This will cause the contact |20 to engage the contact ||8. Thus when the switch 84 is turned to the high position, the current from one of the outside lines will flow through the contacts |20 and ||8 to the heater 28. Current from the middle supply line will ilow through the contacts |4 and |2 to the heater 30. Current from the other outside supply line will flow through the contacts |08 and ||0 to both the heaters 28 and 30. Thus the current flowing through the outside ring heater 28 will flow from one outside supply line to the other while the current flowing through the inner heater 30 will flow from the middle supply line to one of the outside supply lines. Thus the outside heater 28 will be supplied with the maximum voltage for which it is designed, namely, 230-240 volts, while the inner ring heater 30 will be supplied with its maximum voltage, namely 115 to 120 volts. The switch 88 is shown in the high position.

When the knob 84 is turned to the medium position the contacts |08 and ||0 remain closed and the contact I |4 remains in engagement with the contact ||2. However, the contact |20 is again moved out of engagement with the contact ||8 so that no current can ilow through the outside ring heater 28. Full voltage, however, is applied to the inner ring heater 30. The switch 38 is shown in the medium position.

In the low position, the contact |08 remains in contact with contact ||0, but the contact ||4 is moved out of engagement with the contact ||2 and into engagement with the contact |22, because in this position vthe low portion of the cam |04 makes contact with the contact ||4. In this low position, the Contact |20 remains out of contact with the contact ||`8. Thus, current from the middle conductor of the threewire system passes through the contacts ||4 and |22, which forms a portion of the double contactmember ||8, to the outer ring heating member 28, from which the current flows through the contacts and |08 to one of the outside conductors of the three-wire system. Thus when the switch 84 is in this position only one-half full voltage is applied to the outer ring heater 28 and only one-fourth the full heat rating is obtained from the heater 28. The switch 88 is shown in the low position.

Also connected to the three-Wire conductors extending from the line terminal block 80 is the warmer unit 48 which is controlled by the warmer unit switch 12. The conductors to the warmer unit 48 are shown as entering an aperture |28 in the rear wall of the range in Fig. 2 and make connection with the warmer unit 48 as shown beneath the large drawer 48 in Fig. 1. The warmer unit is connected to the middle connection and one of the outside connections of the line terminal block 80 so that the warmer unit operates on 115-120 volts. The'oven temperature control 84 includes the double contacts |28 connected by conductors |30 to the timer clock 88 which in turn connects to the two outside conductors connecting to the line terminal block 80. The double switch contacts |28 are inclusive, there is shown ,the oven switch |82 in its four positions connected diagrammatically to the upper and lower oven heating units 58 and 58. In Fig. 4 the oven switch is shown in the off" position as indicated by its control knob |50. The knob |50 is connected to one end of a cam shaft |52 which is provided with cams |54, |58, |58, |80 and |82 arranged upon the shaft |52 in order. The cam |54 is contacted by the contact member |84 which is adapted to make contact'with the stationary contact |88 connected to the external resistance 18. The high portion of the calm |54 is in contact with the. contact |84 at all times except when the knob |50 is turned to bake position as is shown in Fig. 6, at which time the contact |84 will be engaged with the low portion of the cam |50 to Ipermit the contacts 44 and |88 to close.

The cam |58, which is next in line, is engaged by the contact |88 which is adapted to make contact with the stationary contact |10 forming a part of a contact bar |12 which it shares with the stationary cotntact |14. The high portion of cam |58 remains in engagement with the contact |88 keeping it in open position in the on and high positions, but in the preheat and baking positions Contact |88 is engaged with the low portion of the cam |58 so that it makes contact with the stationary contact |10. The contact |88 is on the same side of the shaft as the contact |18 which is operated by the cam 80. When the knob |50 is turned to the preheat and bake posiconnected by conductors to the binding posts |32 and |34 of the oven switch 62. The oven switch 62 is provided with a third -binding post |38 connected to the external resistance 18 which i'n turn is connected directly to the middle conductor connected to the terminal block 80.

The upper left front'and the upper right rear binding posts |38 and |40 of the oven switch 62 are connected to the terminal 54 which connects to the lower oven heating unit 58. The left rear and right front binding posts |42 and |44 of the oven switch 82 are connected to the upper terminal 52 to which is connected the upper oven heating unit 58. The signal light 14 is connected to the conductor which is connected to the binding post |42 and is also connected to one of the terminals of the appliance receptacle 18 which in turn is connected to the middle conductor connected to the line terminal block 80. The other conductor of .the appliance receptacle is connected to a fuse |48 which in turn is connected to one of the outside conductors connected to the line terminal block 80. Referring now more particularly to Figs. 4 to '1 tions the contact |18 is in contact with the low portions of the cam |80 so that the contact |18 is in engagement with the contact |14 upon the contact bar |12 at the same time 'when the contact |88 is in contact with contact |10 upon the other end of the contact bar |12. However, in the broil position the Contact |18 is also in engagement with the low portion of cam |89 so that it remains in engagement with the contact bar |12 while the contact |88 is moved away from contact bar |12 by the high portion of its cam Upon the other side of the cam shaft |52 is another contact bar |80 provided with a stationary contact |82 adapted to make Contact with a movable contact |84 which is operated by the cam |58. The other stationary contact |88, upon the Contact bar |80 is adapted to be contacted by the movable contact |88 which is operated by the cam |82. In the preheat position the low portion of the cams |58 and |82 are in contact with the movable contacts |84 and |88 so that both of these contacts are in conducting relation with the contact bar which is connected to one cuter conductor connected to the line terminal block. When the knob |50 is turned to the bake" positiony the cam |58 has its high portion in engagement with the vmovable contact |84 thus disengaging it from its stationary contact |82 upon' the contact bar |80. The cam |82, however, has its low portion in engagement with the movable contacts |88 so that it remains in contact with its stationary contact |88. In the bx-oil position of the knob |50, the situation is reversed and the low portion of the cam |59 engages the movable Contact |84 permitting it to contact the stationary contact 82 while the high portion of the cam |82 is engageable with the movable contact |88 to separate it from its stationary contact |88.

Thus it will be seen -in the off position all of the contacts are separated from their cooperating contacts to prevent any energization of the heaters. In the .preheat position one of the outside 'conductors connecting to the line terminal block is connected through contact bar |12 with both maximum capacity at the full voltage, and the upper heating unit I use at one-half voltage and the movable contacts |88 and |18 to supply electact bar |88 connected to the other outside conductor oi' the three-wire conducting system connected to the line terminal block 88. Thus it will be seen that in the preheat position the heating units have one end connected to the common contact bar |12 while the other end is connecte to the common contact bar |88.,

In the "bake position shown in Fig. 6 one of the outside conductors is connected to the common contact bar |12 and through this bar to the -movable conductor |88 and to the lower' open in addition connect the upper heating unit inseries with an external resistance which further'` reduces the actual voltage applied to the upper heating unit. The heating units are provided with an arrangement creating a greater heat intensity at their front and rear edges. By this arrangement I provide an even distribution of heat in the upper portion of the oven for either broiling or baking. I also provide a heating arrangement by which both upper and lower heaters are operated at full voltage and operated at maximum capacity for rapid heating.

While the low intensity, distributed heat 1n the top of the oven is a great aid in providing uniform distribution of heat, it is oi'. primary importance that the lower oven heating unit be provided with properly distributed heat and be bailied in the most eillcientmanner. Referring now more particularly to Figs. 8 to' 13, the lower heating element is shown as formed generally of an upper relatively nat general rectangular wire frame member y2'28 having a projecting portion at its rear edge which supports the electrical plug 222 for connecting the heating unit 58 to its plug receptacle 54. 'Ihe heating unit 58 is also provided with a lower general rectangular wire frame inthe form of a loop 224 which is to the upper oven heating unit 58 and the resistance 18 so that the heat output of the upper oven heating unit will be reduced to about 250 watts.

In the broil position shown in Fig. 7, common contact bar |12 is engaged by the movable` contact |18 which permits current tof iow to the upper oven heating unit 58 which is connected to the common conductor |98 and to the movable conductor |84 which contacts the common contact bar |88 so that in this positionv full voltage is applied to the upper oven heat unit 55 bent downwardly at its side edges soI that it may be engaged within the slideways 226 and 228 provided upon opposite sides of the bottom of the oven shell for holding the lower heating unit in place.

Extending between the front and rear portions of the wire frame members 228 and 224 are the channel members 238 which are formed of sheet steel. These channel members 288 include a web portion 232, upper and lower flanged portions 234 and 238, and these flanged portions have their edges turned inwardly as designated by the reference characters 238 and 248, so as to receive the rectangular insulating blocks 242.

which are provided with central apertures 244.

and baking are evenly` distributed over the top ofthe oven so that the heat at the top of the oven is evenly distributed over the entire top of the oven for both broiling and baking. This particular arrangement avoids .using separate sections of the upper heating unit for'broiling y and baking purposes. `Obviously this particular` arrangement provides improved broiling and baking conditions. .Y

I have provided two similar heating units in the top and bottom of the oven and I provide a beneath the name; The lower heating unit is entirely covered bythe baiiie and surrounds the flanged opening in the/ baille. The upperheating unit I use at maximum capacity for broiling, while'for baking 1 'use the lower heating unit at It is provided These channel members 238 therefore i'orm a. slldeway for these insulating blocks 242. At uniformly spaced distances each of the channel members is provided with a rectangular opening 2'46 which is just'slightly wider than the insu- 1aung mock. nach of these hanged openings registers with the opening in its respective insulating block 242. The edges of the openings 248 are pressed inwardly as designated bythe reference characters 248 and 258 in order to locate the insulating blocks in lplace within the connues loi' the channel members so as to prevent lateral movement and to hold them in alignment withl the apertures 248 in the webct the channels 288,

the web 232 of the channels 288 are provided with rectangular notches 252 at each corner thereby tions of the upper and lower wire frame members 228 and 224 which are provided with flattedportions or notches 258 in order t hold the channelsv 1n position. Y

The electric heating unit is provided with an electrical resistance heating element lin the form of ahelically coiled resistance wire having such a resistance as to provide 2008 watts, at 235 volts.

This coiled resistance wire has its opposite ends connected to the plug 222 and is threaded through the insulating blocks 242. It should be noted that the coiled resistance wire does not extend across from oneside of the center to the other except in the front of the heater where a single coil of resistance wire extends from one side to the other in order to connect the two sides in series with each oth'er. It should be noted that the resistance wire is not pitched uniformly but that a single pass adjacent the rear edge of the heater on either side of the plug 222 and designated by the reference characters 260 and 262 is pitched considerably closer together than the portion 266 and 268 of the resistance wire in between the portions 260 and 262 and the portion 264. 'I'his last mentioned portion 264 is closely pitched like the portions 260 and 262 and extends completely across the heater from one side to the other at its front edge and forms the connecting pass between the two sides of the heater.

The coils of wire are so stretched that the portion of the coil between the portion 266 and the portion 264 has a resistance of about '1.4 ohms and likewise the portion between the closely pitched portion 262 and the closely pitched portion 264 also has a resistance of about '1.4 ohms.

The portion 264 has a resistance of about 5.3v

ohms and the portions 260 and 262 each have a resistance of about 2.6 ohms. It will therefore be seen that the heat intensity is concentrated at the front and rear edges of the heating unit where the greatest amount of heat is desired in order to obtain substantially uniform temperature conditions throughout the oven. Thus in order to secure the desired distribution of heat intensity, the portions 260. 262 and 264 have their pitch only about one-half as far apart as the portions 266 and 268 which are located between the closely pitched portions. Thus I provide a distribution wherein about of the heat ls provided at the front and substantially the same proportion at the rear edge ofthe heater and slightly less than 60% of the heat is provided in between the front and rear edges.

In order to provide a satisfactory distribution of heat from the lower heating unit 5B I provide the baiile 60 directly above it. This baiile is supported by four supports 216 which are fastened to the front and rear edges of the baille 60 adjacent the corners and extend downwardly and are fastened tc the front and rear edges of the upper wire frame member 226. This baffle 60 has its outer edges 212 curled downwardly a small distance providing a reinforcement for its edges and at its center portion it is provided with a deeply flanged aperture 214 which is ,flanged downwardly a considerable distance very nearly to the level of the coiled resistance wire. The baille 60 slopes upwardly on either side of the long flanged aperture 214 at a uniform slope of about 5. This baille provides a means of protecting the food on the lower shelves of the oven from obtaining too much radiant heat from the lower heating unit. Thus this baffle serves as a shield since it completely covers the portions of the heating unit which contain the coiled resistance wire.

It also serves as a means to promote a gentle evenly distributed circulation. Thus the uniform slope of the baille on each side of the flanged aperture 214 produces a circulation of warm air laterally under each side of the baille and upwardly along the side walls and then to distribute itself through the interior of the oven. The anged aperture 214 provides a means by which the air when slightly cooled may be returned to the lower heater beneath the baffle.. The deep ange of the flanged aperture 214 tends to prevent, to a certa-in extent, any warm air from slideways passing upwardly vthrough it instead of passing laterally beyond the side edges of the baille. I find that this deeply flanged aperture in the center of the baille increases the rate oflcirculation over baflles which have previously been used thereby avoiding the trapping of heat beneath the baille, and thus provides a much more even distribution of heat in the oven. This baille is not only useful with the two unit type of oven shown in the drawings, but may also be used with the single unit type of oven where space is provided for broiling beneath the lower heating unit.

As mentioned before the upper heating unit I6 is identical to the lower heating unit 56 excepting that it is inverted. It is supported in slideways 216 and 216 provided upon the top wall of the oven, which slideways are similar to the 216 and 218 provided in the bottom. The increased heat intensity at the edges of the upper unit 56 provides much better broiling conditions than prevails in other heating units and also provides better baking conditions. The side walls of the oven are provided with projections 280 which form supports and guides for the shelves 282. Thus by providing a lower oven heating unit with about 40% of its heating capacity located upon its front and rear edges and by providing this greatly improved form of baille, and also by providing a properly distributed small amount of heat at the top of the oven I have provided an oven which provides much more uniform heating than has heretofore been accomplished In Fig. 13 is unit designated by the reference character 356 which is formed of the upper and lower rectangular wire frame members 320 and 324 which are provided with channel members 330 extending from front to rear as in the heating unit 68. These channel members are constructed like the channel members of the heating unit 56. The coiled electrical resistance wire is threaded through the insulators supported by the channel members 330 in a fashion like that shown in Fig. 12 for the lower heating units 58.

This coiled resistance wire diilers from that shown in Fig. 12' by having closely coiled portions 360 and 362 at the rear edge of the heating unit which extend not only across the rear edge of the heating unit but these closely coiled portions extend to form a loop upon the side of the heating unit. Connected to the closely coiled portions 360 and 362 are the loosely coiled portions 364 and 366 which form loops on the inner portions of the heating unit. These loosely coiled portions are then connected to closely coiled portions 368 and 310 which form loops at the outer edge of the heating unit. The resistance element then continues in alternate loosely coiled and closely coiled portions with the loosely coiled portions forming the inner loops, while the closely coiled portions form the outer loops until'the front of the heating unit is reached, where a closely coiled portion 312 is provided which extends entirely across the front ofthe heating unit and also forms loops at the outer edges of the heating unit.

Thus with this form, the heating unit is provided with closely coiled portions at the front and rear as well as in the loops on the outer edges,

while the loops on the inner portions of the heating unit are loosely or widely coiled. This provides a greater amount of heat at all the edges of the heating unit and a lesser amount of heat in the central portions ofthe heating unit. Thus with an arrangement of this type.. shown a modified form of heatingl this form creates more heat at the edges, and in this way provides more uniform temperature distribution which is advantageous for broiling as well as baking. vThis Vmodiiled form of heating may be used likethe heating, unit 58 in either the single or-two unit oven. It may be used with a similar baille 340 provided with a deep downwardly flanged aperture 314. It may also be used as the upper heating unit-in connection with a lower heating unit like that of Fig. 12. If desired. a different baille may be used orr a different slope employed such as This application is a continuation in part of my copending applications Serial Nos. 248,822 and 208,143. l

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An electric heating means comprising substantially parallel supporting members having insulating material with apertures therein, a coiled heating resistance element threaded in said apertures in parallel runs transverse to said supporting members, certain of said runs terminating along a central unheated zone to provide an unheated opening in said heating means, and a 'baille supported on said heating means and having an opening aligned with said unheatedl opening.

2. An electric heating means for *an oven vox'- the like, comprising a resistance element with aslidable connection withterminal means in said oven, and having a central unheated zone to pron vide an unheated opening in said resistance element, and a baille element overlying and vsubstantially coextensive with said resistance elemen't and having an air circulation opening ing an air circulation opening aligned with said coextensive with said'resistance element and havunheated opening, the walls of the air circulation opening extending downwardly to said unheated opening.

4. An' electric heating means for an oven or the 1ike, comprising a horizontal baille in the lower portion of said oven, said baille having an opening therein for the circulation of oven air therethrough, a horizontally distributed heating element below said` baille and insulatedly attached thereto and positioned about said opening for heating the air passing therethrough, said baille being ilanged downwardly at the aforesaid opening to promote circulation of the oven air.

5. An electric heating means for an oven or the like, comprising a horizontal baille in the lower portion of 'said oven, said baille having an opening therein for the circulation of oven air therethrough, a horizontally distributed heating element below said baille and insulatedly attached vthereto and positioned about said opening for heating the air passing therethrough, said bale being ilanged downwardly at the aforesaid opening and slanting upwardly from the aforesaid opening to promote circulation of the ove'n air.

6. An electric heating means for anoven or,l

the like, comprising a horizontal baille in the lower portion of said oven, said baille having an opening therein for the circulation of oven air therethrough, a horizontally distributed heating element below said baille and insulatedly attached thereto and positioned about said opening for heating the air. passing therethrough, said heating element having a slidable connection with terminal means in said oven, said baille being ilanged downwardly at the aforesaid opening to promote circulation of the oven air.

7. An electric heating means for an oven or the like, comprising a horizontal baille in the lower portion of said oven, said Ybaille having an opening therein for the circulation of oven air therethrough, a horizontally distributed heating element below said baille and insulatedly attached thereto and having an unheated opening and positioned about said baille opening for heating the air passing therethrough, the walls of the air circulation opening extending downward# ly to said unheated opening.

FRANCIS H. MCCORMICK. 

